Eagles coach Andy Reid stops by Poconos to raise money for state trooper

Thursday

Jun 2, 2011 at 12:01 AMJun 2, 2011 at 12:03 AM

For Todd and Matt Livziey, watching their dad, Jay, battle Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia has been difficult. But when 140 golfers, including Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, showed up on Wednesday at Fernwood Resort to help support a fundraiser for the family, the brothers knew they weren't alone in the battle.

But when 140 golfers, including Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, showed up on Wednesday at Fernwood Resort to help support a fundraiser for the family, the brothers knew they weren't alone in the battle.

Reid flew 45 minutes via helicopter from Philadelphia to Bushkill with former Eagles player Vai Sikahema to help raise money for Jay Livziey, a Pennsylvania State Trooper from the Swiftwater Barracks, who just recently completed a bone marrow transplant at Johns Hopkins.

"The support is overwhelming that we get," said Todd Livziey, 22, the oldest of Jay and Tammy Livziey's three siblings (Matt, 20, and Megan, 15). "It kind of speaks for my dad as the person that he is and the life that he's lived so far that all these people care about him and came out to support him."

Livziey was unable to attend the event due to his treatment at the Baltimore, Md., hospital, but organizers hoped to raise near $30,000 for the family.

Of course Reid's appearance attracted many fans. The coach said he wanted to do what he could to give back to the community and the Livziey family.

"To give back to somebody like Jay, I think, is an important thing," Reid said. "I do things like that in Philadelphia. We're out playing football, these guys are out risking their lives. Between the military and the police, to make sure everything's good for us, so I think it's important that you pay respects to them.

"In particular, Jay has not only had bullets, but now he's fighting for his life and so that's a tough deal. Any support I can do there to help, I'd like to do that."

Livziey, a sergeant with the Swiftwater Barracks, has been a policeman for nearly 25 years. Harry Lewis, the Pocono Mountain Region police chief, has known Livziey for the last 15 years.

Lewis called Livziey "a good guy" and that everyone was doing what they could to help the family.

"We're just all praying for him to come back better," Lewis said. "I know the family has been staying down there (Baltimore) for several months at over $100 a day for them to stay. As much as we can cover those expenses so they don't have to is a win for us."

Livziey was diagnosed in December with Leukemia. His treatment began almost immediately because the form of cancer was very aggressive, his son, Todd, said.

Jay Livziey just completed the bone marrow transplant, but doctors are watching him very closely because there can be complications. Todd Livziey said so far things are "looking up."

He's also grateful that the community came out to support his dad, his wife, Tammy, and the three kids.

"I'm just stunned that so many people know about my dad, that care about him enough to come out," Todd Livziey said.